Spontaneous splenic rupture associated with influenza B virus

Abstract

Atraumatic Splenic Rupture (ASR) is rare relative to traumatic cases, being referred to as a spontaneous rupture in the presence of a histologically proven normal spleen. ASR carries with it a risk of mortality which has been reported to be as high as 12.2%, given the life-threatening potential a prompt diagnosis and subsequent management is critical. However, the aetiology of ASR is wide ranging and often and the clinical diagnosis can be obscured by signs and symptoms being attributed to the underlying disease process, thus requiring a high index of clinical suspicion. We present the first documented case of a spontaneous splenic rupture associated with Influenza B virus in English literature.